by Even as FM rock stations moved toward more rigid playlists in the 1980s, Ladd struggled to maintain his independence, both in music and messaging, and often came into conflict with station management. As candid as he is, he was said to be an inspiration for Tom Petty’s 2002 song, “The Last DJ,” a critique of commercial radio that included lyrics like “Well he senior managers I don’t like that he talks so much/And he’s not going to play what they tell him to play.”
In the liner notes to the album of the same name, Petty thanked Ladd for “his inspiration and courage.” “Let’s say he could have been partially inspired for me,” Ladd said in a 2015 video interview.
“I don’t want to say it’s about me,” he added, “but I’m very, very honored, obviously.”
Ladd made stops at several stations over the years. In 2011 he joined SiriusXM satellite radio, where he was host of the Deep Tracks channel. He remained there until his death.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ladd is survived by a brother, Jon, and a sister, Veronna Ladd.
in a interview 2000 With the Los Angeles Times, when Ladd was back at KLOS, he tore up a handful of documents: the station’s playlist schedule, which outlined the songs that would be played throughout the day, up to its 10 p.m. time slot, which remained blank. Like in the old days, he could play whatever he wanted. The only thing listeners could count on was Mr. Ladd uttering his signature catchphrase: “Lord, have mercy.”
When asked why he was allowed to follow his own muse when other DJs at the station were not, Mr. Ladd replied: “Stubbornness, stupidity, stubbornness.”
The station’s programming director, Rita Wilde, quoted in the article, offered a different opinion: “Not many people, if given the freedom, would know what to do with it.”
